Fountain applicator



Aug. 19 1958 s. E. EDELsToNr-z ETAL 2,847,692

FOUNTAIN APPLICATOR Filed Aug. 4. 1955 a M w 2 W w d N 4.6 l 0 M ,JW/2 w m MMM r l Ccm nausea una ac m a 0/3 w j 4 uw J www United States Patent C FOUNTAIN APPLICATOR Sigmund E. Edelstone and Wirt V. Dunlop, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Dupli-Color Products Company, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 4, 1955, Serial No. 526,530 8 Claims. (Cl. 15-139) This invention relates to fountain applicators or fountam. brushes, and has particular reference to such a device of a type having a retractable applicator unit slidably carried by and within an elongated fluid container.

It is an object of the present invention to provide for such a device a novel means for guiding the applicator unit along a generally central path within the container to thereby prevent any undue cramping of the bristles of the dispenser brush as it slides toward and into its operative position projecting outwardly of the container. Another object is to 'provide applicator-guiding means 1n an economical manner.

Other objects, features, and advantages of our invention will be readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the applicator and closure cap, the parts being shown in closed position;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional View of such a device according to our invention, with parts in elevation and with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, showing the cap removed and with the dispenser brush assembly being shown in its outwardly extending position; and

Figure 4 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3. v

As shown on the drawing:

The applicator includes a container, desirably in the form of`a body 12 having a hollow nozzle 14 projecting therefrom, a dispenser brush assembly 16 carried for sliding movement in the nozzle and including a dispenser or applicator such as a brush 18 adapted to project from the forward end of the nozzle, and a closure cap 20 adapted to be applied to the body 12 to cover the nozzlel 14 and the dispenser brush assembly 16. The closure cap 2t) illustrated is of a type which provides for automatic brush retraction by means yet to be described, but the cap could be of a non-brush-retracting type.

The body 12 is shown as having an elongated tubular shape, and has a closed rear end wall 21, and a cylindrical side wall 21a terminating in an open end 22. The body may be formed of any desired material, such as metal, plastic, glass, rubber, or the like.

The nozzle 14 shown is preferably composed of molded, relatively hard plastic material such as Bakelite, hard rubber, or the like. it is generally cylindrical in shape, having a large diameter inner rear end portion 24 press fitted into the mouth 22 of the body 12, and ending in a smoothly rounded tip 28 at the forward end thereof in which there is provided an orifice 30 through which the liquid is adapted to be dispensed.

The applicator unit or dispenser brush assembly 16 is carried within the hollow bore 32 of the nozzle 14. As shown, it includes an elongated plunger or stem 34 at the rear end thereof, a head 36 at the forward end thereof which is adapted to carry the bristles of the applicator brush 18. A spring 40, the rear end thereof rice bottomed against a retainer ring 41 carried at the rear end of nozzle 14, is disposed about the plunger stem 34 to operatively engage the stem as by bearing against the rear end of head 36 as shown, thus biasing the dispenser brush assembly 16 toward the forward, extended position illustrated in Fig, 3. In that extended position the dispensing brush 18 projects outwardly of the nozzle tip 28 through the orifice 30, and the plunger head 36 seals against the tapered inside wall 2S of the nozzle tip 28 adjacent orifice 30 to seal the orifice.- A retracted position of the dispenser brush assembly 16 may be effected as shown in Fig. 2 by the closure cap 20 which carries a brush-retracting pin means 44 which engages the forward end of plunger head 36 to eifect a brushretraction automatically with the closure of the cap onto the nozzle, as by interengaging thread means 45-46 carried by the cap and nozzle; or, brush assembly retraction may be effected by pressing down on the brush 18 to obtain a further charge of liquid to flow through the orifice onto the brush.

A particular feature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved means for guiding the plunger 34 along a path generally central of the nozzle 14, and which presents the brush bristles 1S generally centrally of the nozzle tip 28 as the brush assembly slides toward its extended position as shown in Figure 3. To

this end, both the forward portion of the plunger and a rearward portion of the plunger are supported generally centrally within the nozzle 14. As shown, means such as the spaced, radially extending lugs 5ft or the like are provided at spaced intervals around the periphery of the plunger head 36. The lugs 50 may be, and desirably are, integral extensions of the plunger head 36, the head and lugs being molded as from a plastic material. These lugs 50 are adapted to engage the nozzle bore 32 to effectuate the desired guiding of the front end of the plunger. Particularly because a rearward portion of the plunger 34 is also guided centrally within the nozzle 14 as is yet to be described, the lugs 50 need not extend fully to the bore 32, but may stop snort thereof as indicated by the clearance 51, permitting wider manufacturing tolerances and ease of assembly. The material to be dispensed flows between and about the spaced lugs 50.

The spring 40, referred to above in connection with its function of biasing the dispenser brush assembly forwardly toward extended position, has a forward portion 56 the turns of which are of a diameter such that they fairly snugly receive the forward end portion of plunger stem 34. Thereby, the forward spring-portion 56 in effect serves to guide the plunger stem 34 rearwardly of the plunger head 36. The rear portion 5S of the spring is provided with a flared or tapered configuration providing a broad spring base which is seated against the retainer ring 41. The broad base-portion 58 of the spring 4!) tapers so that the largest end coil or :several of these coils seat snugly in the nozzle bore. This centers the spring in the bore and provides a centering effect for the forward spring-portion 56, which in turn provides the desired support of the plunger 34 rearwardly of its head 36. Thus rearward support of plunger 34 is effected through the spring 4t).

Moreover, since the larger turns 58 extend outwardly to the diameter of the nozzle bore, and since 'the forward turns 56 fairly snugly receive the plunger stem 34, all liquid to be dispersed must pass between the turns of the spring, thereby obtaining a filter of the fluid to strain out any solids from being dispersed. Furthermore, since during brush-retraction the larger turns at the rear of the spring collapse before collapse of the forward smaller turns, those rear turns effect a seal of the container contents when the brush is retracted, as during a storage condition in which a brush-retracting cap as illustrated is assembled onto the dispenser.

It will be noted from Figure 3 that the interior of the nozzle and body 12 are in full open communication to accommodate free flow of fluid therebetween. If .the liuid is in the form of a suspension such as pigmented paint or lacquer it is desirable to provide a uniform body of the suspension for dispensing to the brush and shaking the device will agitate and mix the contents of both the nozzle and body. To assist mixing an annular weight W can be provided in the body to bottom on the nozzle and receive the plunger or stem 34 freely in the hole thereof. The weight W will reciprocate in the body when the device is shaken and the entire contents of both the body and nozzle will be stirred up and rendered uniform.

We have found that a fountain applicator constructed according to our invention provides a desirable plungercentering and guiding characteristic by novel means providing economy of manufacture and assembly, providing the desired advantages and characteristics, and accomplishing its intended objects including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention as described.

lt will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

We claim as our invention:

l. A fountain applicator comprising a container having an orificed dispensing nozzle with a cylindrical bore and a valve seat adjacent the orice, a control valve in said nozzle, the forward end portion of said control Valve coacting with said seat and having applicator means adapted to project from the nozzle through the orifice and to be retracted into the nozzle to unseat the valve, a plurality of spaced guide lugs extending outwardly adjacent the rear end of the iiow control valve and adapted to provide a plurality of arcuate passages between said control valve and said nozzle and to coact with the bore of the nozzle to effect a guiding of the forward portion of the flow control valve, said control valve having a stem portion extending rearwardly thereof, a coil spring disposed about said stem portion rearwardly of said lugs, the forward end portion of said spring bearing on the rear end portion of said control valve, a spring retainer means carried by said nozzle and having a central opening therein, said spring having a forward cylindrical portion the coils of which fairly snugly receive said stern of said control valve, said spring having a rearward conical portion of larger diameter the coils of which are in contact with said retainer means to provide a broad spring base adapted to bias and maintain the forward spring portion in a centered position generally coaxial with the nozzle bore to thereby guide the stem portion of said control valve within said spring.

2. A fountain applicator comprising a container having an oriliced dispensing nozzle with a cylindrical bore, a valve seat adjacent the orifice in said nozzle, an applicator in said nozzle, the head portion of said applicator forming a valve coacting with said valve seat and having applicator means thereon adapted to project from the nozzle through the orifice and to be retracted into the nozzle to unseat the valve, spaced guide lugs extending radially outwardly adjacent said head portion of said applicator and adapted to provide a plurality of arcuate passages between said applicator and said nozzle and to coact with the bore of the nozzle to effect a guiding of .the head portion of the applicator, said applicator having ya stem portion extending rearwardly thereof, coil springs disposed about said stem portion rearwardlyof said lugs, the forward end portion of said spring bearing on said .head portion of said applicator, a retainer ring carried by said nozzle and having a central opening substantially larger than the diameter of said applicator, said spring having a forward cylindrical portion the coils of which fairly snugly receive the stem portion of said applicator and a rearward conical portion tapering rearwardly toward the retainer ring the turns of which are in contact with said retainer ring to provide a broad spring base adapted to bias and maintain the forward spring portion in a centered position generally coaxial with the nozzle bore to thereby guide the stern portion of said applicator within said spring.

3. A fountain applicator comprising a container having an oriced dispensing nozzle, said nozzle having a cylindrical bore with a valve seat adjacent the orifice thereof, an applicator in said nozzle, the head portion of. said applicator forming a valve coacting with said valve seat and having applicator means thereon adapted to project from the nozzle through the orifice and to be retracted into the nozzle to unseat said valve, a plurality of spaced guide lugs extending radially outwardly adjacent the head portion of said applicator and adapted to provide a plurality of arcuate passages between said head portion of said applicator and said nozzle and to coact with the bore of the nozzle to effect a guiding of the head portion of the applicator, said applicator having a cylindrical stem portion extending rearwardly thereof, a coil spring disposed about said stern portion rearwardly of said lugs, the forward end portion of said spring being cylindrical and bearing on the head portion of said applicator, retaining means carried by the rear end of said nozzle for bottorning said spring and having a central opening therein, the rear end of said stem portion extending freely through said central opening of said spring retainer, the coils in the forward cylindrical portion of said spring fairly snugly receive the stern portion of said applicator and a rearward conical portion of said spring being of larger diameter and with coils of which contact said retainer means to provide a broad spring base adapted to cooperate with said retaining means and with the bore of said container to bias and maintain the forward spring portion in a centered position generally coaxial with the nozzle bore to thereby guide the stem portion of said applicator within said spring.

4. A fountain applicator comprising a container having an orificed dispensing nozzle with a cylindrical bore, a valve seat adjacent the orifice of said nozzle, an applicator in said nozzle, the head portion of said applicator coacting with said Valve seat and having applicator means thereon adapted to project from the nozzle through the orifice and to be retracted into the nozzle to unseat the valve, a plurality of guide lug means extending radially outwardly adjacent the head portion of the applicator peripherally thereabout and adapted to coact with the bore of the nozzle to provide a plurality of arcuate passages and to effect a guiding of the head portion of the applicator, said head portion of the applicator having a stern portion extending rearwardly thereof, a coil-spring disposed about said stern portion rearwardly of said lug means, the forward portion of said spring bearing on the head portion of said applicator, a spring retainer means carried by said nozzle and having a central opening therein, the rear end of said stem portion extending freely through said central opening of said spring retainer, said spring having a forward cylindrical portion the coils of which fairly snugly receive said stem portion and a rearward 'conical portion of larger diameter, the coils of which, contact said retainer means to provide a broad spring base adapted to bias and maintain the forward spring portion in a centered position, generally coaxial with the nozzle bore to thereby guide said stern portion of said applicator received within said spring.

5. A fountain brush having a container adapted to dispense liquid therefrom, said container including a body and a hollow nozzle projecting therefrom, an orifice in the forward end of said nozzle, a dispenser brush assembly including a plunger adapted to be slidably carried within said nozzle for reciprocating movement therein, a valve seat adjacent said orifice in said nozzle, the foraaa-zaga ward end of said plunger forming a valve for coasting with said valve seat, the rear end of said plunger providing a stem, a retainer ring -having a central opening carried by the rear end of said nozzle, a coil spring disposed about said stem and bottomed against said retainer ring, the rear end of said stern extending rearwardly beyond the rear end of said spring and through said opening in said retainer ring and into said container body, said spring having a forward cylindrical portion the coils of which snugly receive said stem and a rearward conical portion of larger diameter flared outwardly toward said retainer ring with the end coil thereof in Contact with said retainer ring, said spring adapted to bias the plunger forwardly and guide said stem rearwardly, lug means carried by said plunger adjacent its forward end, peripherally spaced thereabout, extending radially outward to coact with the nozzle bore to provide a plurality of arcuate passageways between said plunger and the internal cylindrical wall of said nozzle to allow the dispensing of liquid around said plunger to said valve and to effect a guiding `of said plunger.

6. A fountain brush having a container adapted to dispense liquid therefrom, said container including a body and a hollow nozzle projecting therefrom and provided at its tip with an orifice, a dispensing brush assembly including a plunger adapted to 'be slidably carried within said nozzle for reciprocating movement therein, said plunger including an enlarged head providing a valve adapted to seal said orice,the rear end of said plunger providing a steam, a retainer ring carried by the extreme rear end portion of said nozzle, a coil spring disposed about said stem and bottomed against said retainer ring and adapted to bias the forward end thereof and said plunger outwardly, the rear portion of said spring being conical and flared `outwardly toward said retainer ring and in contact therewith and the forward portion of said spring being cylindrical and of a diameter fairly snugly receiving said stem of said plunger, the rear end of said stem extending rearwardly beyond the rear end of said spring through the 'opening in said retainer ring and into said container body, lug means carried by said head of the plunger extending radially outward to coact with the nozzle bore to provide a plurality of arcuate passageways between the head of said plunger and the internal cylindrical wall of said nozzle to allow liquid to ow to said orifice and to effect a guiding of said plunger.

7. In a fountain brush, a container having a body for ycontaining a supply of liquid and having a hollow nozzle embodying a cylindrical bore projecting from said body, said nozzle having a dispensing orifice, a dispensing brush assembly slidable in said nozzle and including an elongated plunger and an applicator brush means carried by said plunger, a valve seat adjacent said orifice, the forward end -of said plunger forming a valve for said valve seat, the rear end of said plunger extending rearwardly to provide a cylindrical stem, a coil spring disposed about said stern and having the forward end thereof bearing 'against said plunger and adapted to bias said dispensing brush assembly in a forwardly extended position with respect to said orifice, retaining means having a `central bore carried by said nozzle for bottoming the rear end portion of said spring, the bore of said retaining means and of said nozzle being substantially larger than the diameter of said plunger to accommodate a general free interflow of liquid between the container body and the nozzle about said plunger, said spring having a conical rear portion extending inwardly with its rear coil bot tomed against said retaining means, and a forward cylindrical portion fairly snugly receiving .said stem to effect a guiding of said stem through said spring, the rear end of said stern extending beyond the rear end of said spring and into said container body, and circumferentially spaced lug means carried by-said plunger adjacent its outer surface to provide a plurality of arcuate passageways between the forward end of said plunger and the internal cylindrical wall of said nozzle to allow dispensing of liquid and to provide means for guiding the forward end of said plunger generally centrally of the nozzle bore.

8. A fountain applicator which comprises a tubular body for holding a quantity of liquid, an orificed nozzle projecting from the end of the body, a valve seat adjacent the orifice in said nozzle, the rear internal wall of said nozzle flared rearwardly and outwardly, a movable stemmed brush assembly in said nozzle having a head movably seated on said valve seat to control flow of liquid through the orice, a stern extending rearwardly from said head, a coil spring mounted about said stem in said nozzle, said spring formed at the rear end thereof of superimposed coils of metal which gradually diminish in diameter toward the mid-section thereof, the coils at the forward end of the said spring formed to provide a cylindrical portion to snugly receive the forward end of said stem therein, the rear end of said stem extending rearwardly beyond the rear end of said spring, a spring retainer ring having a central opening carried by the rear end of said nozzle, the rear coil of said spring bottomed on said retainer ring, the forward coil of said spring bearing on said head, and the peripheral edge portions of said rear coils of said spring contacting the flared internal wall surface of said nozzle for guiding said stern through said spring and the central opening of said retainer ring, said nozzle and container body having free communication therebetween substantially unobstructed by said retainer ring, and an agitator weight having a central opening in the body thereof to 'allow the rear end of said stem to reciprocate therethrough and for mixing the liquid within said tubular body before passing through said coils of said spring and said nozzle to be dispensed therefrom.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 596,951 Wiehl Jan. 4, 1898 1,992,607 De Mille Feb. 26, 1935 2,250,444 Brigham July 29, 1941 2,299,627 Hunter et al. Oct. 20, 1942 2,643,409 Hempel June 30, 1953 2,686,925 Hempel Aug. 24, 1954 

